About Marianne

Marianne van Silfhout’s journey into art began later in life, but her passion for creativity and adventure had always been a driving force.

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She and her husband, Hank, immigrated to Canada from the Netherlands in 1958, settling in Toronto and later Montreal. After Hank’s retirement in 1972, they traded city life for the countryside, making their permanent home on a sprawling 500-acre farm near Charleston Lake. It was there, surrounded by rolling woodlands and sprawling meadows, that Marianne’s deep connection to nature fully flourished.

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A woman of remarkable strength and determination, Marianne embraced the rugged demands of farm life. She worked alongside the men, hauling hay and firewood, and spent countless hours hiking, skiing, and tending to her expansive perennial gardens. When Hank passed away, she remained fiercely independent, holding fast to her life on the farm.

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At the age of 59, Marianne embarked on an entirely new chapter. She took up canoeing, adventure travel, and even downhill skiing—redefining what it meant to grow older. With her characteristic curiosity and fearlessness, she enrolled in courses at St. Lawrence College (SLC), including Auto Mechanics for Women, eager to master new skills. It was during this time that she also discovered her passion for art. What began as a single course blossomed into a creative calling—over the next 12 years, she completed 38 art courses, seven of them while bravely battling cancer.

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Marianne’s love of the wild inspired both her life and her art. She traveled as far as the Arctic, capturing its stark beauty through her lens and brush. Even when she could no longer attend her beloved classes, she continued to paint at her kitchen table, driven by an unyielding creative spirit.

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Those who knew Marianne remember her with deep admiration and affection—for her resilience, her adventurous soul, and her unwavering commitment to lifelong learning. Her extraordinary gift of a community gallery has ensured that her legacy endures. The Marianne van Silfhout Gallery continues to inspire and uplift, carrying forward her love of the arts and her belief in their power to enrich lives.